VOTE: Should turban-wearing Sikhs be exempt from wearing helmets on motorcycles?
On October 18, turban-wearing Sikhs will be allowed to ride motorcycles without helmets in Ontario.
The Progressive Conservative government says that the exemption will recognize the religious expression of Sikh motorcycle riders.
“I have been calling for a helmet exemption for turbaned Ontario Sikh motorcyclists for several years now,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, the MPP for Brampton South, in a statement. “The wearing of the turban is an essential part of the Sikh faith and identity, and exemptions for Sikhs have been successfully implemented in other provinces in Canada and across the world.”
Ontario will be joining the ranks of Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba which also exempt turbaned Sikhs from wearing motorcycle helmets.
The Tory government also noted that the United Kingdom has had a similar exception for Sikhs since 1976.
“The safety of our roads will always remain a priority,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement. “But our government also believes that individuals have personal accountability and responsibility with respect to their own well-being.”
The Sikh Motorcycle Club of Ontario welcomed the news on their Facebook page: “Soon we will have a right to ride with our pride,” said a post.
Here is what people on Twitter had to say about the news:
No one should be exempted from laws. What kind of ridiculous province is Ontario? Any Sikh should have to pay for any med care arising from any accidents out of their own pocket then. Disgraceful. I expected better from Ford.
— Jay (@magikspecs) October 11, 2018
Im all for allowing everyone to have their religious beliefs but this is the dumbest thing I’ve heard. The government is taking religion over safety? If helmets are the law for one, they should be the law for everyone!
— Jim Hogen (@Jimmyhogen) October 11, 2018
I'm from a Sikh family and this is absolutely wrong..Serious Sikh riders wear "parna"(small cloth turban) under their helmets & change into real turban after arriving to destination. This is crass appeasement politics which will give bad name to educated integrated sikhs
— Manu (@manusingh__) October 10, 2018
To put this in perspective… In Ontario there are only 179,765 men, women & children who are Sikhs (StatsCan, 2011 National Household Survey) & only a small percent of them ride motorcycles. This is a tempest in a tea pot that has become an issue, because it's a slow news day.
— M J R (@AKA_Mike_Ryan) October 11, 2018
Some of the common concerns amongst readers was that Ontarians would have higher costs due to injuries incurred while not wearing a helmet as well as the exemption being discriminatory to non-Sikhs.
So what do you think? Should Sikhs be allowed to ride motorcycles without helmets? Vote above and let us know what you think in the comment section!